Christmas Eve

We had another fun day with last minute shopping trips. However, about 4:45, we were all ready for our annual Chinese night! My parents started several years ago to take us out to a Chinese buffet on Christmas Eve, then lights, then caroling to our favorite friends. This is one tradition that Andy LOVES! Then we came home to do our Nativity, which the kids were so excited about! They have been practicing all week their costumes to be Mary and Joseph - with my white kitchen dish clothes and my headbands. Dad was wicked King Herod and the star. I was the shepherds with my pet sheep. Emily was the wise men with her gift. Annie was Mary while Ben played the part of Joseph. Joseph took great care of his donkey (the step stool) and even made it a pen with an opening/closing door.

The wise man reallllly wanted to hold Baby Jesus, but Mary just couldn't give him up! Either she was holding him, or he slept in his manger (the other step stool turned upside down). It was a great night, but the kids were so exhausted, they went to bed without putting cookies and carrots out. Dad kindly took care of that for them!

BYU Bowl Game

We finally got 'real' tv and with our special package, we get the college sports pack. So, we got the BYU bowl game in Las Vegas. Yippee!!! We are on Eastern time, so everything here starts later - except wake up time for the children. Happily, we were able to watch half of it and save the rest for the next night with the kids. Annie and Emily were just being silly. Ben watched the entire second half while Andy and I explained the rules to him..

Annie decided she would rather play with toys than watch since Ben already claimed Dad's lap.

Sugar Cookies

Since I was little, we have always made batch after batch of sugar cookies to take to neighbors. This year I just couldn't do it, so we made batch after batch of fudge to deliver instead. It goes much faster and makes less mess! However, I realized we hadn't made ANY sugar cookies and needed to send some of my brother. Out came the mixer... We had two little friends over for the day to give their mommy and new baby sister some break time. Me vs five kiddos with the dough...the cookies turned out a little bit tough since we rolled and re-rolled the dough so many times, but put enough frosting on and they were great!

Making 'Gingerbread' Houses

I'm thinking gingerbread houses are just too much work, so this year we got very enthused to make our houses with graham crackers! It became a fun activity instead of a 'have to' project. Doing the prep work - it was pretty good frosting...

Everyone needs a taste test...

Engineers at work! This house was very sturdy. Andy, Ben and Emily worked together.

Annie and I did another house.

Although for some reason I think more candy may have gotten in Annie's mouth that on the house. Hmmmm

Yeah - nine at night and all done!

Finished products! Our favorite part was the pond with the red pop rocks on it - looked awesome!

They loved turning Ben's car into a tractor so it would fit and the contemporary architechural style!

Yummy yummy houses!

More Snow Fun

The kids have had a lot of fun in the snow. Thankfully Ben is self-sufficient and Annie is mostly there, so getting outside isn't such a production. And, the right equipment makes the time outside much more enjoyable!

VERY posed picture; they have had lots of reminders NOT to throw snowballs at mom!

Cutting Down a Tree

When we got marries, Andy said we could only do a real tree when we could 'hike' through the woods and cut down our own. We now live in a place this can be done, so we did it - on a VERY cold, but somewhat sunny, day!

We found it! Annie said it was perfect!

They had the tree cut down before I could pull my camera back out, so we had to pose this one again!

The outdoorsman and his kiddos!

We tried to get a Christmas picture before leaving for church this past Sunday. This was the best we got! We were running late and supposed to be early and the morning just went downhill from there!